Combination comb and file



June 28, 1949. E. v. BOUDREAUX 2,474,570

COMBINATION COMB AND FILE Filed March 24, 1945 INVENTOR. EmzIe Vfiaudzauag Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINAIION COMB AND FILE Enfile V. Boudreaux, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 24, 1945, Serial No. 584,602

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to toilet articles and specifically to a combination comb and file, the said comb being constructed and arranged so as -to house the file in the comb back when the file is not in use.

An object of the invention is the provision of a toilet article which is inexpensive in cost of manufacture, attractive in appearance, saving in space in that the device is so arranged as to bouse another device; durable, and superior in construction to devices now known to the inventor.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the nove1 and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features all as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the comb and file;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the comb and file;

Fig. 3 is a perspective and detached view showing the file in fragment separated from the comb back;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the comb and file; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring now with particularity to the draw- I have shown in certain figures a comb I and a file 2. These two items are iHustrated for the reason that they are the toilet articles most generally used. The comb l, as is customary, includes a back 3, with the usual teeth 4 and enlarged end teeth 5 and 6. The comb back 3 has an elongated outwardly opening groove 1. This groove is narrow as to Width and has substantial depth, that is, it has a depth sufficient to totally enclose the file Z. That portion of the comb back which is provided With the groove l terminates inward of one end of the comb, as shown best in Fig. 3 at s. The portions 9 and m 01 the comb back 3 formed by the groove 1 are undercut so as to provide tWo extensions Il and l2 overlying portion 8. The undercut portions are such as to provide for a. varying depth for the extensions and thereby a varying spacing between portion 8 and said extensions. Such construction provides for what may be termed a nose for each extension, as shown at l3 and l4.

The file 2 includes the usual file body which incorporates at one end, to wit: the handle end, an integrally formed or otherwise secured member [5, se shaped as to conform to the contour of the comb back. Thus when the file is Within the groove 1 the appearance of the comb at bothends is substantially the same. This enlargement [5 has a curVed top surface at l6, a substantially fiat bottom H, and notched portions [8 and I9 positioned on opposite sides 01. the body of the file. These notched portions conform in shape tothe under-cut portions of the extensions Il and l2. The portion l5 is formed with face depressions 2 and 2l to provide a finger grip.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows: The present comb and enlargement [5 which is secured to the file may be formed of any material desired, such as of plastic, and in fact the file itself may be made of plastic. IIowever, I do not limit the present invention to any particular material.

Viewing Fig. 1, it will be observed that the Width of the file is such as to be closely confined vvithin the groove 1 and between the members 9 and m bounding said groove. The construction may be such as to closely confine the toothed portion of the file between the inner surfaces of said members 9 and li), and thus aid in preventing the accidental removal of the file from the groove. IIowever, the member i5 is constructed and arranged to readily cooperate With the nose portions H and M of the extensions Il and [2 in such a manner that there is a locking relationship therebetween which efiectively holds the file within the groove l. Thus as the file glides inwardly of the groove the nose portions of the said extensions Will contact the correspondingly shaped notched portions I8 and [9 and the said nose portions wi1l spring upwardly; thus eecting an interlocking of the parts. When it is desired to remove the file the fingers may engage the depressed portions 20 and 2l and a slight pull outwardly whiie holding the comb W111 disengage the nose portions from the notched portions and thus permit ready removal of the file from the groove 5. It is intended that there shall be a springlike action in the extensions t0 permit disengagement 0f member i5 therefmm. The drawings have exaggerated the depth of the notched portions and the size of the nose portions, as it is evident that such depth and size will be regulated by the character of the material used to construct both the comb and the member l5 carrying the file in order to get sufiicient spring action at this zone.

To all outward appearances the comb resembles the usual form of comb, and the file housed in the back is not liable to have its pointed end acci dentally protrude from said back, due to the interlocking relationship that exists between member l5 and the extensions H and 12. Thus the comb may be carried in the pocket without making holes in the pocket. By following the construction depicted the opposite end of said comb might ncorporate a further toilet article, such as a cuticle removin,g device.

I claim:

1. In a devise of the character disclosed, a first member provided with an elongated outwardly opening groove, and formed with a cut-away portion adjacent one end of said member to provide two undercut extensions adjoining said groove; an element to be received in said groove and formed with a part adapted to fi1l said eut away portion to form a continuation of the first member, said part provided with spaced notches adapted to have snap engagement with said un dercut extensions for holding said part to said first member.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, a first member provided with a pair of elongated portions spaced to form a groove therebetween, said elongated portions both being undercut at one REFERENCES CITED The following referemces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,731,287 Barnowitz Oct. 15, 1929 2,080,248 Ballou May 11, 937 2,122,226 Wyman June 28, 1938 2,168,804 Payson Aug. 8, 1939 2,357,919 Weiss Sept. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 488,822 Germany Jan. 7, 1930 

